1ST ODI, AUS Vs RSA, CAIRNS 2025 HIGHLIGHTS : Maharaj’s Classic Bowling Surprised A Big Win Against Australia .
Keshav Maharaj took five wickets as South Africa won the first one-day international of a three-match series against Australia by 98 runs in Cairns on Tuesday. Australia crumbled to 198 all out in pursuit of 297 as Maharaj took 5/33 at Cazalys Stadium. Australia captain Mitchell Marsh made a fighting 88 but did not receive any support from the rest of the batters. Earlier, Travis Head returned with a four-wicket haul as Australia restricted South Africa to 296/8 in 50 overs in first ODI of the three-match series. Put in to bat, the Proteas openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave them a good start. Markram contributed 82 and Rickelton 33. Later, Temba Bavuma made 65 and Matthew Breetzke 57 from 56 balls. Maharaj’s Classic Bowling Surprised A Big Win Against Australia .
TOSS-
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl
PLAYING XI-
Australia Squad:
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa Squad:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
SOUTH AFRICA-
At the heart of Start was Aiden Markram, sent up to open the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton. The pair added 92 at 16.5 overs before Rickelton (33) got jittery and not only survived a run-out opportunity on 8, as well as a referral for LBW on the sweep and Zampa’s failed shout for pitching outside leg, he fell to Head.
By this time, Markram was in his stride. He went to his 13th ODI fifty off 54 balls, peppering the off-side with drives and cuts, before racing to 82 off 81. He was within a century when he nicked off to Dwarshius. Captain Temba Bavuma who was playing for the first time since the WTC Final, then continued with the composure and this time, he got an attacking partner in Matthew Breetzke. Their third-wicket partnership of 98 put South Africa on track for an even bigger total before Breetzke miscued a slog sweep to be caught for 57.
Australia briefly fought back when Head removed Tristan Stubbs and debutant Dewald Brevis in the same over, but Wiaan Mulder’s sizzling 31 off 26 ensured South Africa closed on 296, dramatically more than Australia could cope with once Maharaj got on a roll. Head finished with his second four-wicket haul in ODIs.
AUSTRALIA-
Australia’s capitulation was nevertheless spectacular, even after plundering the first 50 runs of the innings from the opening five overs. The first breakthrough came by medium-spinner Surbayan Prenelan, who adjusted his length and caught first-innings hero Travis Head well short of the crease to get the left-hander stumped for 27, thus registering his first ODI wicket.
Maharaj then took over. He did not wait for the batsman to settle in; off his first ball, he breached Marnus Labuschagne’s defence and pinned him in front. Labuschagne, in his first match back in international cricket having been omitted from the Test side in the Caribbean, half-heartedly reviewed and walked. Maharaj then had Cameron Green bowled, angling it from wide of the crease and out-turning him. Alex Carey was caught sweeping, Aaron Hardie bowled with a cookie-cutter repeat of the Green delivery, as Maharaj completed his five-for. By the time the 17th over came, Australia were six down with the writing on the wall even as Marsh and Ben Dwarshius (33 off 52) added 71 for the sixth wicket to only delay the inevitable.
Maharaj’s 5 for 33 tore the heart out of Australia’s pursuit of 296, which had begun promisingly at 60 for 0 before sliding to 89 for 6. Mitchell Marsh put up a fight with 88 off 96 balls, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Brief scores:
South Africa 296/8 in 50 overs (Aiden Markram 82, Temba Bavuma 65, Matthew Breetzke 57; Travis Head 4-57) beat Australia 198 in 40.5 overs (Mitchell Marsh 88; Keshav Maharaj 5-33) by 98 runs.